TOYOTA Motor Corporation (TMC) has celebrated a Japanese fiscal year (April 2025 – March 2026) sales record, finishing the period with sales up 2.5 per cent year-on-year to 11.28 million units. 

  

While the group (including Daihatsu, Hino and Lexus) is still a week away from announcing its fiscal year profits, the results show that Toyota’s “multi-pathway approach” to new energy vehicle technologies have helped to insulate the company from the effects of US tariffs and inconsistent battery electric vehicle demand globally. 

  

Daihatsu – which was forced to halt production in early 2024 following a certification scandal – rebounded strongly, with worldwide sales rising 13.9 per cent to 697,271 units. Hino, meanwhile, continued its decline, with global volume falling 13.1 per cent to 108,619 units. 

  

Although the fiscal year numbers show a healthy increase, month-by-month sales in the first quarter of 2026 headed in the wrong direction – potentially signalling a weaker result for the 2026-27 financial year. 

  

Toyota’s sales figures show the company sold 887,266 units globally in January (up 4.8 per cent YoY), and just 806,182 units in February (down 2.4 per cent YoY). 

  

March results fell by an even greater percentage, the month’s 983,126 sales representing a YoY decline of 5.8 per cent. 

  

US sales of Toyota and Lexus models climbed 7.7 per cent to a record 2.52 million units in the just-ended fiscal year, Canadian sales increased by 6.8 per cent to 248,238 vehicles, while European sales grew 1.5 per cent to 1.18 million units – another record for the Japanese brand. 

  

Global hybrid sales advanced by 0.5 per cent to 4.34 million units – accounting for close to 40 per cent of TMC’s total deliveries – while BEV sales rose 31 per cent to 188,785 units, or just 1.7 per cent of the car-maker’s overall global volume. 

  

That last figure means every region reported in TMC’s most recent fiscal year results filed its best year yet for BEV sales, led by China. 

 

Including plug-in hybrids (152,071 units, down 5.6 per cent), mild hybrids (118,510 units) and fuel cell vehicles (1,275 units), total electrified Toyota and Lexus sales reached 4.8 million units or 45.8 per cent of combined Toyota and Lexus deliveries (and 42.5 per cent of all TMC volume). 

  

TMC prestige brand Lexus sold 870,570 units across the 2025-26 fiscal year, with almost half of that figure (405,261 units) sold into North American markets. 

  

Asia (excluding Japan) was the second strongest market for Lexus, where 236,154 units were sold (down 0.5 per cent on the 2024-25 fiscal year). 

 

While BEV sales in China are growing strongly, overall Toyota and Lexus sales in the country dipped 1.4 per cent to 1.76 million units amid intensifying competition from domestic manufacturers. 

 

India proved a bright spot for TMC in Asia, with sales surging 21.4 per cent to 371,536 units. 

  

The 2025-26 fiscal year numbers continue a mostly steady trajectory for the Japanese brand. 

  

Reviewing the company’s production sales figures from 2018 to now, we note increases of 1.9 and 1.5 per cent in the lead up to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company taking a 1.4 per cent production hit in 2020, followed by a sharper 5.1 per cent hit the following year. 

  

Sales recovered quickly in 2022, up 4.7 per cent, staying positive through 2023 and 2024 (up 1.7 per cent and 5.0 per cent respectively) before falling slightly in 2025 (down 0.7 per cent). 

 

 

2018-26 TMC total sales (including Daihatsu, Hino, and Lexus)*:   

 

*Sales data supplied courtesy of Toyota Motor Corporation

VANS are the only commercial vehicle segment in Australia showing an improving sales trajectory, narrowing combined full-year 2025 losses of 10.8 per cent to just 0.4 per cent across the first quarter of 2026, driven almost entirely by popularity of the Toyota HiAce. 

  

By contrast medium-duty truck sales plunged 35.4 per cent in Q1 to their worst first-quarter result since 2001, heavy-duty trucks dropped 11.1 per cent and light-duty trucks fell 10.2 per cent. 

 

Combined ute sales shed 2468 units for a 4.3 per cent decline, with the dominant 4×4 category swinging from growth of 4.7 per cent in calendar year 2025 to a six per cent loss in Q1 of this year. 

  

Combining all van segments from sub-2.5-tonne GVM light vans through to 8.0-tonne heavy commercials, 8416 vans were delivered in Q1 2026, just 33 fewer than the same period last year. 

 

The 2.5-3.5-tonne GVM class, which accounts for the bulk of the market, improved from a 12 per cent decline across 2025 to a one per cent loss in Q1. 

  

“We’re seeing a clear rebalancing of the market,” a TIC spokesperson said. 

 

“While overall volumes have come back from the highs of recent years, demand for light-duty vans remains comparatively strong, particularly in metropolitan delivery applications.” 

  

Toyota’s sixth-generation HiAce, now in its seventh year of production, accounted for 3336 van sales in Q1, a 15 per cent year-on-year increase that earned a commanding 59.3 per cent share of the 2.5-3.5-tonne segment. 

 

Buyers appear more inclined to put their money down on a known quantity than take a chance on alternatives. 

 

The relative stability of the van segment is thought to reflect operators pivoting towards lower-cost, urban-focused freight solutions, particularly in last-mile delivery where e-commerce volumes continue to support courier and logistics fleets. 

 

Vans offer lower upfront costs, reduced operating complexity and a faster return on investment compared with rigid and articulated trucks. 

  

“In a tighter operating environment, fleets are prioritising efficiency and flexibility,” the TIC spokesperson said. 

 

“Vans provide a compelling solution for urban freight tasks where utilisation and cost control are critical.” 

  

The result is a commercial market where light-duty vehicles are gaining prominence as operators recalibrate fleet strategies. 

 

“The market isn’t collapsing, it’s evolving,” the TIC spokesperson said. 

 

“What we’re seeing is a shift towards right-sized transport solutions, and vans are a major beneficiary of that change.” 

  

Beyond the HiAce, Hyundai’s Staria Load was second in the medium segment at 661 units, down 3.5 per cent on Q1 of 2025 (a facelifted model is imminent), followed by the Ford Transit Custom at 546 (down 27.7 per cent). 

 

LDV’s ageing G10 and G10+ found 325 buyers (down 36.8 per cent) and the same brand’s Deliver 7 and eDeliver 7 were down 4.4 per cent with 263 sold. 

 

The Renault Trafic dropped 24.5 per cent to 154 units, while the Mercedes-Benz Vito and eVito rose 13.9 per cent to 123 and the Volkswagen Transporter climbed 19.4 per cent to 111 units. 

  

Small vans up to 2.5 tonnes GVM – comprising the Renault Kangoo, Peugeot Partner and Volkswagen Caddy in petrol, diesel and battery-electric guises – declined 3.9 per cent across the first quarter. 

 

Large vans between 3.5 and 8.0 tonnes, mostly diesels including the Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, Iveco Daily, LDV Deliver 9, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Peugeot Boxer, Renault Master and Volkswagen Crafter, recorded a 1.6 per cent increase. 

  

Truck Industry Council CEO Tony McMullan attributed the broader commercial vehicle downturn in part to Middle East conflict and its effect on fuel costs. 

 

“There is little doubt that the events in the Middle East over the past six weeks and the ensuing effect of fuel prices in Australia has placed the road freight industry under substantial financial stress,” he said. 

  

“Business confidence in the sector is suffering considerably and understandably the significant increase in operational costs for transport companies may lead many organisations to review their immediate fleet expansion and/or fleet replacement plans.” 

  

Mr McMullan said April sales, but particularly May and June, “will give a better indicator of the, likely, tougher times ahead”. 

  

For the full year of 2025, TIC data showed total heavy vehicle sales of 45,191 – the third-best result on record but still an 11.9 per cent decline representing 6086 fewer units than 2024. 

 

Last year, heavy-duty truck sales fell behind light-duty truck sales for the first time in a decade. 

  

“Despite the challenging economic environment that prevailed across the Australian economy in 2025, it was pleasing to see new truck sales hold up well in 2025, culminating in the third-best sales result for the heavy vehicle sector last year,” Mr McMullan said. 

  

In 2025, van sales held up better than medium and heavy-duty truck sales, which fell 18 and 16.7 per cent respectively, though light-duty trucks proved more resilient with a decline of 5.8 per cent compared with vans at 8.1 per cent. 

   

Battery-electric van sales remain modest but are establishing a foothold across the small and medium segments. 

 

The Geely-backed Farizon Supervan registered 41 units year to date as a new entrant, while the Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo managed 26 and the Peugeot E-Expert recorded 25.  

 

Electric variants of the LDV Deliver 7 and Mercedes-Benz Vito are also contributing small volumes, though combined BEV van deliveries across all segments remain well short of triple figures.

UPDATED: March 31, 2026

 

NISSAN sales are down 44.7 per cent on this time last year, reflecting a continuing downward trend for the once-strong Japanese importer. 

 

The brand has lost 1.5 market share points across the same period – down to just 2.1 per cent – a far cry from its solid standing of 5.7 per cent a decade ago. 

 

No longer a top 10 seller, and with recent cuts to its local portfolio, Nissan appears to be struggling to maintain consumer interest. To the end of February, Nissan sold just 3646 units, placing it 14th on the local charts. 

 

Nissan sold just 10 examples of its Z sportscar during the first two months of this year (down 73.7 per cent), 68 copies of its now defunct Juke compact SUV (down 57 per cent), 233 examples of its Qashqai small SUV (down 78 per cent), and 1323 examples of its X-Trail medium SUV (down 49.4 per cent). 

 

Although the latter two have recently received updates that could prompt more demand, the recently introduced Ariya battery electric SUV found just 18 buyers in the same timeframe. 

 

The now-axed Pathfinder large SUV achieved 41 sales (up 46.4 per cent on the same time last year), and the aged Patrol upper large SUV 905 units, down 20.8 per cent. 

 

On the light commercial vehicle front, Nissan sold 102 examples of its two-wheel drive Navara (up 50 per cent year-on-year) and 946 examples of the four-wheel drive variant (down 35 per cent). This figure is of course expected to improve with the recent arrival of the fifth-generation D27 series that is based on the Mitsubishi Triton. 

 

Nissan Australia rejected the suggestion that two months of data painted an accurate picture of the brand’s trajectory, particularly during what it described as a period of deliberate model changeovers and new product introductions. 

 

Nissan Oceania head of communications Coughlan said the company’s focus was on “sustainable, long-term growth” rather than chasing short-term volume. 

 

“We have taken proactive steps to run out models such as Juke and Pathfinder as part of this transition, while repositioning toward future growth segments, particularly hybrid,” Mr Coughlan said. 

 

He pointed to expanded hybrid availability as central to the strategy, including a new X-Trail E-Power 4×2 variant arriving later this year. Mr Coughlan also indicated Nissan was close to announcing another model for the Australian market. 

 

“While increased competition continues to impact market share across the industry, our focus remains on sustainable growth, dealer profitability, and long-term customer value,” he said. 

 

When comparing recent sales figures with long-term statistics, however, it is evident that Nissan faces a significant challenge to arrest the decline regardless of whether the trajectory is measured over two months or two years. 

 

Despite delivering a generous 10-year warranty to market in February last year – a move Mr Coughlan cited as evidence of the brand’s commitment to improved customer value – Nissan has contended with long waits for the Y63 Patrol and D27 Navara, and relatively expensive E-Power hybrid technology. 

 

It has to date introduced just two of the 30 new models it promised to have in showrooms before 2030, to say nothing of the uncertainty that surrounds Nissan Motor Company globally. 

 

Globally, Nissan sold 3.2 million vehicles last year, a decrease of 4.4 per cent on the year prior. 

 

As recently as this month, Nissan Motor Company CEO Ivan Espinosa admitted the company was struggling to remain relevant in a fast-moving market. The company expects to record a ¥650 billion ($A5.8 billion) net loss at the end of the 2025–26 Asian financial year and has dropped out of the global top 10 best-sellers list for the first time in 16 years. 

 

It even sold its global headquarters in Yokohama, only to lease the premises back from Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. 

 

In May last year, the brand launched its Re:Nissan recovery plan, designed to achieve cost savings of ¥500 billion ($A4.5 billion) by closing seven of its 17 factories and cutting 20,000 jobs. The plan also outlined Nissan’s intention to reduce the number of platforms within its line-up from 13 to seven by 2035, reduce part complexity by 70 per cent, and realign its product and market strategy. 

 

Nissan said it aims to cut new-vehicle development time significantly, reducing the time from concept to production from 37 to 30 months. 

 

It also plans to draw on what it has learned from Chinese partner Dongfeng – with which it developed its N6 plug-in hybrid and N7 battery electric sedans, Frontier Pro PHEV ute, and NX8 SUV – for its global operations. 

 

The brand is also expanding its electric portfolio, having unveiled the electrified Micra and next-generation Leaf last year while also launching the Ariya electric SUV in Australia. An electrified Nissan Juke and a BEV city car – expected to be called the Wave – are also expected soon. 

 

Nissan has said the Leaf is unlikely to reach these shores and the petrol-powered Juke has exited stage left. Whether the E-Power strategy and promised wave of new models is sufficient to arrest the brand’s fall – locally and elsewhere – remains to be seen. 

 

2016-26 Nissan sales in Australia*: 

 

 

*Sales data supplied courtesy of VFACTS. 

^Forecast sales based on YTD monthly volume

ELECTRIED driveline options now account for a considerable share of Australia’s most popular vehicle segment, the sub-$65,000 medium SUV category, with 27 entrants available in a field of 36 models – or 75 per cent of the overall segment.

 

BYD offers four entrants alone in the medium SUV under $65K category with its Atto 3 battery electric model, Sealion 5 and Sealion 6 plug-in hybrids and Sealion 7 BEV.

 

Chinese compatriot Chery offers its Tiggo 7 entrant in both petrol and PHEV format, the burgeoning brand joining others that include the Deepal S07 BEV, GAC Aion V BEV, Geely Starray PHEV, Geely EX5 BEV, GWM’s Haval H6 (petrol, hybrid and PHEV) format and Haval H7 hybrid, Jaecoo J7 (petrol or PHEV), Leapmotor C10 as a range-extender hybrid or BEV, MG its HS as a petrol, hybrid or PHEV, and the Zeekr 7X BEV.

 

Honda offers the ZR-V and CR-V in both petrol and hybrid format, while Hyundai offers the Elexio BEV and Tucson in petrol and hybrid form. KGM (formerly SsangYong) offers electrified versions of both its Torres and Actyon, while Kia sells diesel, petrol, and petrol-electric versions of its popular Sportage.

 

Mitsubishi – one of the first in the segment to offer plug-in hybrid power – offers petrol and PHEV versions of its strong-selling Outlander, while Nissan offers both petrol and hybrid versions of its evergreen X-Trail.

 

A smattering of European entrants provides a mix of petrol and electrified drivelines, including the Renault Scenic E-Tech BEV and Skoda Elroq BEV, while Japanese stalwarts Subaru and Toyota round out the current portfolio with hybrid versions of the Forester and RAV4 respectively (noting the RAV4 is now also available with plug-in hybrid power).

 

The statistics reveal that only two diesel powered models remain within the medium SUV under $65K segment – the KGM Korando and Kia Sportage – and just seven as a petrol-only proposition – being the Mahindra XUV700, Mazda CX-5, Peugeot 3008 and 408, Renault Koleos, Skoda Karoq, and Volkswagen Tiguan (although a Tiguan PHEV is imminent).

 

While GoAuto does not have access to a full breakdown of sales by fuel type for the segment, internal estimates show that just over half (50.6 per cent) of the category’s registrations now include some form of electrification, indicating that Australian buyers are moving to embrace new technologies in a bid to save on fuel costs and reduce their transportation emissions footprint.

 

2026 Medium SUV segment under $65K by fuel type*:

 

	BEV	Diesel	HEV	Petrol	PHEV
BYD Atto 3	Y	–	–	–	–
BYD Sealion 5	–	–	–	–	Y
BYD Sealion 6	–	–	–	–	Y
BYD Sealion 7	Y	–	–	–	–
Chery Tiggo 7	–	–	–	Y	Y
Deepal S07	Y	–	–	–	–
GAC Aion V	Y	–	–	–	–
Geely Starray EM-I	–	–	–	–	Y
Geely EX5	Y	–	–	–	–
GWM Haval H6	–	–	Y	Y	Y
GWM Haval H7	–	–	Y	–	–
Honda CR-V	–	–	Y	Y	–
Honda ZR-V	–	–	Y	Y	–
Hyundai Elexio	Y	–	–	–	–
Hyundai Tucson	–	–	Y	Y	–
Jaecoo J7	–	–	–	Y	Y
KGM Actyon	–	–	Y	Y	–
KGM Korando	–	Y	–	Y	–
KGM Torres	Y	–	Y	Y	–
Kia Sportage	–	Y	Y	Y	–
Leapmotor C10	Y	–	Y	–	–
Mahindra XUV700	–	–	–	Y	–
Mazda CX-5	–	–	–	Y	–
MG HS	–	–	Y	Y	Y
Mitsubishi Outlander	–	–	–	Y	Y
Nissan X-Trail	–	–	Y	Y	–
Peugeot 3008	–	–	–	Y	–
Peugeot 408	–	–	–	Y	–
Renault Koleos	–	–	–	Y	–
Renault Scenic E-Tech	Y	–	–	–	–
Skoda Elroq	Y	–	–	–	–
Skoda Karoq	–	–	–	Y	–
Subaru Forester	–	–	Y	Y	–
Toyota RAV4	–	–	Y	–	Y
Volkswagen Tiguan	–	–	–	Y	–
Zeekr 7X	Y	–	–	–	–
TOTAL	11	2	13	21	9

 

*Motive fuel type data supplied courtesy of R.J.Pound and VFACTS.

News – Market Insight – Market Insight 2026

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ELECTRIFIED vehicle sales – including those with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric powertrains – are making ground on the total share of diesel models sold Down Under. 

 

Data collated from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) VFACTS report and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) most recent statistics show electrified vehicle sales now trail those of all diesel-powered vehicles sold by just 8716 units – or 0.7 per cent of the total number of vehicles sold for the 2025 calendar year. 

 

And while diesel numbers remain steady as a whole, the data shows electrified vehicle share is consistently eroding that of petrol-powered models, which have decreased in volume by 4.4 per cent since the start of the decade. 

 

It is a trend that appeared to accelerate late last year, as in December 2025, electrified vehicles edged ahead of their petrol counterparts by 499 units and outdid diesel by nigh-on 6900 deliveries. 

 

In 2025, Australian new vehicle buyers purchased a total of 475,279 petrol-powered vehicles, 54,070 fewer than at the beginning of the decade. By contrast, diesel-powered vehicle sales have increased by 73,594 units, led largely by the popularity of dual-cab light commercial utilities. 

 

But by far the largest incremental shift is in the uptake of electrified vehicles. Combined, sales of all electrified models have increased by a staggering 293,848 units against the 2020 calendar year, an uptick of 473.6 per cent. 

 

VFACTS data shows 199,133 hybrid vehicles were sold in 2025, a 16 per cent share of all vehicle sales for the calendar year, and a five-year increase of 239.9 per cent. 

 

Plug-in hybrid vehicle sales reached 53,484 units at the end of last year, up 3,063 per cent. 

 

Battery electric vehicle sales compiled from VFACTS and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) data – due to Polestar and Tesla reporting exclusively to EVC since July 2024, following a dispute with the FCAI over New Vehicle Efficiency Standard lobbying- have increased from 1769 units at the start of the decade to 103,270 units at the end of 2025, or 5737.8 per cent up since 2020. 

 

However, the 2025 result marked a reduction from the 114,672 battery electric vehicles sold in 2024, their popularity most likely eroded by plug-in hybrid sales, which more than doubled to 53,484 units last year. 

 

On the whole, the figures indicate a marked shift in buyer preference toward greener vehicle technologies as a greater number of more affordable ‘new energy’ entrants arrive in the market. 

 

It is a trend that will continue in the years ahead as the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard wields an increasingly big financial stick against vehicle importers that sell a lot of high-emitting models. 

 

With penalties on higher-polluting vehicle types expected to inflate retail prices of diesel- and petrol-powered models commensurately, it is indubitable that the trajectory of electrified vehicle sales will continue its steady ascent. 

 

Electrified vehicles catch up to diesel as petrol flatlines

 

*Data supplied courtesy of the FCAI and EVC